Glen Garioch 1995 19 yr
Single Malt Scotch Whisky
56.3% ABV (112.6 proof)
~$150 (sample provided)
Note: this is Highland Scotch finished in ex-rum casks.
Color: pale gold
Smell: malty, with a backbone of sweetness. The ex-rum cask finish is actually quite muted - for me, the main effect is a slight "wine-ification" of the nose to something similar to an overproof Chardonnay. It's oaky, rich, nutty, and almost buttery. Quite nice.
Taste: slight grain/cereal sweetness on entry, but this is quickly displaced by a whole lot of oakiness and nuttiness on the midpalate. It finishes warmly, with alcohol heat and lingering flavors of toasted nuts and oak spice. It's tough to tease out, but I imagine the ex-rum casks are also adding to the big-time woody influence.Overall: it's my least favorite of the 2015 Exclusive Malts so far. It's not bad, but for me it's in the "B-/B" range. The ex-rum casks seem to maybe add a slight additional sweetness on the nose, but perhaps at the expense of overwhelming wood influence on the palate. It's a much harsher package than I was expecting - for me, it's roughly equivalent to an overproof Glenmo. Not bad by any means, but this has a very familiar flavor profile of malty, nutty, oaky, and slightly sweet that you can find in many cheaper alternatives. I don't think the ex-rum casks add enough to justify the price of entry.
